Brothers and Sisters,
One of the National Division’s responsibilities is identifying issues that could affect our members before they become widespread.
Recently, we have become aware of several cases involving alleged personal electronic device violations where members returned to work after resolving their carrier discipline, only to later receive a separate Notice of Proposed Disqualification from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
This is an issue many members may not be aware of.
The FRA has authority to conduct its own review of certain safety-sensitive matters independent of the railroad’s disciplinary process. In other words, these letters regarding alleged violations of 49 § CFR 220.305(a) and possible removal from service are under FRA jurisdiction, falling outside of protections provided by the collective bargaining agreements. As a result, returning to work following carrier discipline does not necessarily mean every aspect of the matter has concluded.
The purpose of this advisory is simple — to ensure every BLET member understands the importance of complying with the federal regulations governing personal electronic devices while performing safety-sensitive duties.
No text message, phone call, email, or social media notification is worth jeopardizing the career you have worked so hard to build.
The National Division is monitoring these matters closely and will continue providing information to our General Committees and membership as we gain additional experience with these proceedings.
As the responsibilities placed on locomotive engineers continue to grow, protecting your federal certification has never been more important. The National Division will continue working to ensure our members have the information they need to protect both their certification and the profession we proudly represent.
As always, our goal is to keep our members informed, protect the profession, and help every engineer avoid situations that could unnecessarily place their career at risk.
Fraternally,
Mark Wallace
BLET National President